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Forbes lists 6 richest people in Colorado

By Staff and wire reports

Posted:
09/23/2010 11:45:55 AM MDT

Updated:
09/23/2010 05:49:21 PM MDT

Philip Anschutz ( | MATTHEW STAVER)

Forbes released its list of the 400 richest people in America on Wednesday, and some familiar faces were on top. Bill Gates retained the top spot with a worth of $54 billion, followed by Warren Buffett with $45 billion. Six Coloradans made the list:

34. PHIL ANSCHUTZ

Worth: $7 billion

Home: Denver

Wealth profile: Anschutz' privately held AEG controls 120 venues worldwide, including iconic arenas like the Staples Center in L.A. and The O2 arena in London. It then fills these arenas with much of its own entertainment. Anschutz has stakes in 9 sports teams, including the L.A. Lakers and L.A. Kings while his concert division underwrites the tours of musicians including the Black Eyed Peas, Cher, Jon Bon Jovi and Justin Bieber.

Charles Ergen (AP | STUART RAMSON)

The son of an oil driller, he bought out his dad, went broke, and then struck oil in Utah and Wyoming. He parlayed the proceeds into railroads and then used the rights of way to lay fiberoptic cable, which he spun off into Qwest Communications.

Last year: No. 37, $6 billion

51. CHARLIE ERGEN

Worth: $5.2 billion

Home: Denver

Wealth profile: Founder of satellite-TV service EchoStar Charles Ergen got his start as a financial analyst at Frito-Lay.

Tried his hand playing pro poker. He switched to selling TV satellites from a truck with wife in 1980s.

Today Dish Network has more than 14 million subscribers and is the only pay-TV provider to offer local channels to consumers in every market nationwide.

Last year: No. 49, $4.9 billion

110. JOHN MALONE

Worth: $3 billion

Home: Parker

Wealth Profile: Restructuring several key holdings. In November completed split-off of Liberty Entertainment from Liberty Media, combining it with DirecTV Group to create new public company, DirecTV; stock up 50% over last 12 months.

In April announced his resignation as chairman and reduced voting interest from roughly 24.3% to about 3%. Chairman of Liberty Media since 1990; plans to combine Liberty Capital and Liberty Starz into new company, likely by early 2011.

John Malone ( | Matthew Staver)

In 2009 bought $530 million stake in Sirius XM, saving it from bankruptcy.

Partner of TCI cable founder Bob Magness; sold nation's largest cable company in 1999 to AT&T for $54 billion. In August bought working cattle ranch in what was reportedly the largest sale of deeded land in the American west in 60 years.

Last year: No. 141, $2.3 billion

136. JAMES LEPRINO Worth: $2.6 billion

Home: Denver

Wealth profile: His Leprino Foods is the exclusive cheese supplier to Pizza Hut, which makes 2 million pizzas a day. Also supplies Domino's, Hot Pockets.

Business expanding along with the pizza chains push into Asia.

Father, Mike Sr., came to the U.S. from Italy in 1914, settled in Colorado. Whipped up homemade mozzarella and ricotta cheese for customers in 1950s. Developed a faster way to manufacture mozzarella, turned modest family business into world's largest mozzarella producer.

Firm sold $6.7 billion worth of hospital beds, artificial joints and other medical equipment last year.

She has used her fortune to fund community non-profits through her Bohemian Foundation; backs Democratic candidates in Colorado politics. The press dubbed her as one of the "Gang of Four," a quartet of rich Democrats that financed a liberal agenda in Colorado.

Last year: No. 289, $1.35 billion

332. GARY MAGNESS

Worth: $1.2 billion

Home: Denver

Gary Magness ( | )

Wealth profile: Inherited hundreds of millions of dollars in stock from dad, Bob Magness, founder of cable television titan TCI, which merged with AT&T in 1999 in a $54 billion deal.

Owns water rights in Colorado through ranch holdings; also invests in oil, gas, cattle.

With wife, Sarah, produced critically acclaimed movie Precious. Next project: documentary based on young adult book series that follows indigenous Brazilian tribe.

Leader of off-road truck racing team Mango Racing; travels to races, mostly in Mexico and Las Vegas. Prize money goes back to local villages in Mexico.

One-day event to run slide down University HillIt's not quite the alternative mode of transportation that Boulder's used to, but, for one day this summer, residents will be able to traverse several city blocks atop inflatable tubes.

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